City of Gold

by Daniel Blackaby

  Tiana kept her eyes straight ahead but answered, “The sleeping quarters. Consider it population control. When you live forever there’s less need to grow up quickly. The children are only permitted to be within the ageing dome during their lessons. Otherwise they would grow too quickly for Atlantis to accommodate them.”

  Cody noticed that her tone was bitter. She shook her head in disgust. “It is obviously more convenient to keep your children in far off banishment.” she added. The intensity in her eyes provided clear warning that the conversation was over.

  They came to a stop in the center of the city. Whereas the rest of the buildings were thatched together, the structure in the middle was constructed entirely of stone. In fact, the building looked as though it had been carved in a single, massive boulder.

  “The Hall of Names,” Tiana offered as explanation. “A record of every person ever born in Atlantis’ realm.”

  “Every person?” Cody asked, eyeing the structure with heightened curiosity. “What sort of records are kept?”

  Tiana’s face was stern. “It’s no more than a jewelry box of unwanted memories; records of a past I’d rather not remember. Come, let’s go. There’s nothing more to see here.” She turned and departed the opposite way. Cody took one last glance at the building. A dozen names popped into his mind.

  One name in particular.

  33

  Hidden Pasts

  CODY PEERED OUT HIS DOOR to the blackened courtyard. The coast was clear. Elevating to the balls of his feet, he scampered into the clearing and between the huts that flanked both sides.

  He looked beyond the blue taint of the dome to the sleeping quarters. There were no lights. Good, they’re all sleeping. Confirming the coast was clear, he dashed down the alley toward the center of the city.

  Reaching the end, he halted. The Hall of Names. He pushed himself from the wall, sprinted to the door and disappeared inside.

  The interior consisted of a single, rounded room. The outside had been deceiving, masking the room’s vast size; the domed room was like a gigantic dancehall. Lining the walls were shelves reaching all the way to the ceiling. Filling the shelves were thousands of bins full of various trinkets. Each bin was labeled with a name.

  Cody paced around the room examining the alphabetical names of children past and present. He stopped at one bin labeled Fincher Tople. If only I had more time.

  At last his eyes found what he was searching for: Tiana Hubrisa. The bin was on one of the upper shelves. Cody glanced around for a ladder but there was none in sight. He pulled up his sleeves and began climbing up the shelf.

  Reaching the top he drew the bin down and eagerly dumped the contents on the floor. Compared to many of the other boxes, her tub was noticeably sparse. He picked up a rock with two smeared eyes and a smiling mouth painted on it. The unsophisticated toy made him smile. He couldn’t imagine Tiana ever being so young or innocent. The idea of Tiana as a child was somehow strange, as though she had arrived into the world as the same troubled, young woman he now knew.

  He picked up some loose pieces of paper. They were labeled as yearly grading reports. He chuckled as he began to read them:

  “Tiana is an exceedingly gifted child. However, she struggles from a very short attention span and low motivation.”

  “Tiana’s tendency to beat up the boys remains an issue….”

  Cody’s glee vanished as he continued.

  “Another year has passed without a single visitor. Tiana is remarkably strong willed, but her eyes don’t lie.”

  “Her nightmares persist. She has taken to sleeping isolated from the other girls. She seems embarrassed. Still won’t talk to anyone about her nightmares but the girls complain that she screams in the night.”

  “Tiana is always alone.”

  Cody dropped the paper. He didn’t want to read anymore. He picked up a small nameplate carved into the stone. It seemed to be a form of birth certificate:

  Name: Tiana Hubrisa

  Parents: Unknown

  God-Parent: Sally Peatwee.

  Sally? Cody hadn’t seen the spunky diner owner since she had returned above ground prior to Randilin’s attempted hanging. She’s Tiana’s guardian? Why? Cody racked his brain, but couldn’t think of any possible connection between the two. I’ll ask Randilin.

  He heard noise from outside the hut. He held his breath until the silence had returned. I should get out of here. He turned to leave but paused as another bin caught his eye: Arianna Levenworth.

  He glanced to the door and then back to the bin. His curiosity was too great. Turning back, he pulled the bin from the shelf.

  Name: Arianna Levenworth

  Parents: Gongore and Tamarah Levenworth

  He examined a portrait of her. Wait…I’ve seen her before. Flipping through his memories he finally found it, she’s the woman holding hands with Kantan in the picture kept in the Prince’s chamber. Like then, Arianna was radiant despite not being overly beautiful. There was something else familiar; around her neck hung a beautiful silver necklace with a flower emblem. Each of the petals formed the shape of a heart.

  Cody reached into his pocket and pulled out the metal object he had retrieved from the floor of the Caves—it was an identical silver flower necklace, although rust and grime had stolen its luster. She was in the caves? Cody’s face hardened as he realized what that meant: Randilin murdered her? It can’t be…

  “Where did you get that necklace!?”

  The voice startled Cody and caused his heart to skip. Tiana stood in the entrance to the hut.

  “Ti! What are you doing here?!” Cody felt ashamed.

  “I asked you a question…where did you get that necklace?” her voice was cold and stern.

  “I—uh—it—caves—um…I’d forgotten about it,” Cody stammered. Tiana rushed at him, backed him against the shelf, and snatched the necklace from his hands. She swiftly shoved it into her gown. Her eyes found the scattered bin on the floor with her name on it. All color left her eyes. “What have you done?”

  Cody dropped to the ground and began frantically replacing the items. “I’m so sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I just wanted to…”

  Before he could finish Tiana’s hands yanked him to his feet. “I told you to stay out of my past,” she said, her voice quivering. The rage in her tone terrified Cody. With a violent shove Tiana sent Cody crashing against the shelves, causing an avalanche of bins to tumble down.

  “You think you have the right to just barge into anyone’s business?”

  Cody found himself tumbling across the room, his face skidding on the floor.

  His cheek burned as he pulled himself to his feet. “Ti, I’m so sorry.” His skin went cold as he saw the gleam of a dagger across the room. He fell to the ground as the blade soared through the air and pounded into the wall just above his head. “Ti, please!” Cody raised his hands and braced himself for an attack, but instead he heard something unexpected—the sound of crying.

  Tiana stood motionlessly, leaning against the wall for support, her eyes red. She pointed at him. “Look what you’ve done!” she wailed. She looked as never before—meek and helpless.

  “Ti, what’s going on? Why have you been avoiding me?” Cody probed gently.

  A single tear rolled down her cheek. “Because I care! I actually care, and I’m not supposed to.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You were just a silly game; a way to pass the time; a way to make Jade jealous, to make her as miserable as I was. I showed you romantic sunsets while inside I was laughing as you bumbled about like a lovesick fool. It was perfect—until it happened. It wasn’t supposed to, but it did. When I held you in the courtyard, after the ambush, and I kissed your cheek—it happened.”

  “What happened?”

  “I realized it was no longer just a game. I realized…I cared about you.”

  Cody felt the air in his lung exhale. “Then…why…what?…If you did, then…why did you avoid me?” he managed
.

  Tiana released a single sarcastic laugh. “Because that’s what I do—I run. You think I’m this perfect girl, but you don’t know me at all! I’m not perfect. I’m a lying, scheming, selfish witch. The only person I look out for is me.”

  Cody couldn’t help but smile. “If that were true then you wouldn’t be here, risking your life for me….”

  Tiana shook her finger at him, but was momentarily speechless. “My parents didn’t want me. Abandoned me. Never even met them. I’ve always been on my own. Always. If they represent what love is, then I want nothing to do with it. Ever. What good is joy if it only intensifies the inevitable pain? Anytime I show such childish weakness and begin to develop that wretched feeling, I flee.”

  “Is that what happened with you and Xerx? Is that why you abandoned him and left the Monastery?”

  Tiana smirked. “Xerx is a fool. We had a perfect thing going. I finally had a friend who could keep up with me. And then, with one foolish question, he ruined everything. That’s why I don’t understand…”

  “Don’t understand what?”

  “Why you would risk your own life on this rash mission to rescue Jade, a girl who will only break your heart. Give me one reason how that makes any logical sense?”

  Cody gazed at Tiana, her beautiful blonde hair sticking out like a haystack and her eyes full of so much hurt and pain. The answer to the question came to Cody unexpectedly, but was as familiar as if he had always known it. “It’s not logical—but it makes perfect sense,” he muttered. His face was glowing, vanquishing every shadow in the room, “Because I love her.”

  34

  The Journey Continues

  WHAT DID I JUST SAY?! Cody gazed at the roof of his hut. He felt lightheaded as though sleeping on the moon. Am I crazy?! His revelation had disarmed Tiana. She had stumbled out into the night speechless and dazed. Cody was no less stunned by his own revelation. I love Jade? The words had exited his mouth by their own accord, as though his heart had grown impatient with his bullheadedness. His thoughts raced back to the last time he had seen her, standing in the battlefield. What had she said? Her last words were unheard, lost in the clamor of battle.

  He rolled over in his bed as his eyes drooped. He smiled to himself; for the first time he felt confident filling in her missing word: Love. His breathing was deep as his body drifted to sleep. For the first time in weeks, he wasn’t visited by nightmares.

  Two Days Remaining…

  The horses were loaded and ready. Cody rubbed his horse’s muzzle, happy to see him again. The prickle of a thousand eyes struck him from behind as the mob of children crowded around the convoy.

  Dace mounted his horse and headed toward the group. “Our detour through the caves has left us no room for further delay. If we don’t reach El Dorado in two days’ time then this mission will have been in vain. With luck we can reach the Borderlands before nightfall.”

  Tat pulled alongside Dace. His face was stern. “We ride hard—without stopping,” his eyes pinned to Chazic as he paused briefly for emphasis. “We know not the location of the golden golems or whether the Garga has abandoned its territory in pursuit. Above all, we do not know where the Hunter rests. We ride our horses into the grave if we must!”

  Cody’s horse reared onto its powerful hind legs and bellowed. With a graceful leap he bolted forward, leading the charge from the courtyard. The children chased after the horses.

  Reaching the edge of the city, the stallion propelled Cody through the blue bubble. It was like passing under a waterfall of slime. As soon as he emerged, Cody instantly felt the energy from the Book pumping through him. He sighed in relief—it was good to be immortal again.

  The Labyrinth Mountains. They dwarfed any structure Cody had ever seen as they dominated the horizon like New York’s cityscape. The mountains appeared to march toward them as The Company rode steady all morning, through the afternoon, and into the evening.

  The horse’s flaring nostrils snorted in a back-and-forth dialogue with Cody’s growling stomach.

  Then, on the break of evening, it appeared. One moment there were only mountains on the horizon—the next, a mighty fortress. The giant wall filled the break in the rocks like outspread arms holding the colossal mountains at bay. Beyond the city rose a dense pillar of smoke—Lilley.

  Dace pulled his mount in front of the convoy bringing them to a halt. “We will reach the walls of Flore Gub by darkfall. Our rides are going to give out at any moment. We must rest for the final push.”

  “Rest within sight of the fortress? We will get new horses if we must, we should push on!” urged Tat.

  Dace dismounted. “Wolfrick. Sheets. Fall back and watch our rear.” The two soldiers nodded and took off in the opposite direction. Dace turned back to Tat. “We are all sensitive to your situation, but as the leader the call is mine. We will rest and tend to the horses.”

  Chazic stepped forward. “Captain, our circumstances have been valid, but we have neglected the Orb’s Hymn. Perhaps now would be an opportune time to give honor.”

  “This again?” Tat huffed, the only member of the Company still in saddle. He pointed to the billowing pillar of smoke. “How can you, in clear sight of such evil, maintain your self-righteous devotion and childish rituals? I can’t comprehend it.”

  Chazic knelt to one knee. “Just as I can’t comprehend abandoning your faith at a time when hope is most needed.”

  “Hope is just a coward’s excuse for inaction. Have it your way. I volunteered to lead you to Flore Gub and I have. I owe nothing to any of you.” Tat spat to the ground before Chazic. “Nor your orb.” Spurring on his horse, Tat took off toward the mountains. The rest moved toward their horses but Randilin brought up his hand. “Let him be….”

  Cody stretched his stiff legs and watched Tat ride out of sight. He felt no anger toward the guide for his departure. If their places had been switched, and Jade’s fate awaited him, he had no doubt he would do the same.

  Cody looked up and jerked. Xerx was standing in front of him, dragging his feet in the sand. “Um…do you need something?” Cody asked hesitantly. He folded his right hand into a fist, preparing for anything.

  Xerx opened his mouth several times as though to speak, but each time he closed it without uttering a word. Finally he muttered in a rushed voice, “I’ve been thinking about what you said the other day, when we were with the Garga…I can train you. That is, if you still want me to…oh, never mind…. ”

  Cody grinned. “I’m just two days away from facing the most powerful creator in Under-Earth. I can’t think of anyone I’d trust more to prepare me than you…seriously,” he added as Xerx seemed unsure whether to take the comment as a jest.

  “Well, my first lesson would be to lose the dramatics. No offense, but sending balls of fire is entirely cliché and predictable.”

  Cody shrugged sheepishly. “But it sure looks impressive, doesn’t it?”

  “A fight is not won by style, it is won by smarts. You actually did this when you saved me from the Garga.”

  “I didn’t have time to think. I did the first thing that came to my head and just filled their lungs with sand.”

  “Exactly! You did so instinctively because you didn’t have time to bog it down with finesse. It was an indefensible move. Spouting geysers of lava may make an impression, but they can be extinguished by water. Instead, you need to use your head. For example, instead of drenching someone with water, create the water in them. Cause it to burst some of their veins and you defeat them quickly and easily

  “I’d never thought of that, Xerx.”

  If Xerx’s grin had grown any bigger it would have leapt off his face. Something triggered a thought in the back of Cody’s mind. “You’ve known Master Stalkton for a long time now. You probably know him better than anyone, don’t you?”

  Xerx nodded. “Yeah, I suppose so. Why?”

  Cody hesitated. “Did he ever mention anything about…The-Creation-Which-Should-Be-One’s-Own?”

&
nbsp; Xerx’s smile instantly vanished. “Where did you…?”

  Cody shook him off. “Stalkton mentioned it, but vowed never to speak of it again; said that the Golden King was close to discovering it. Do you know what he was talking about? Did he ever mention it to you?”

  Xerx looked around making sure no one was within earshot. “Yes.” He sat down beside Cody and spoke in a whisper, “You know how Stalkton can be, spends more time talking to himself than anyone else. Well, one night I heard him muttering and it caught my attention. The next couple nights I’d loop back around after my lessons and eavesdrop. Every night was the same; he would get himself worked up about The-Creation-Which-Should-Be-One’s-Own. Kept going on about protecting them—whatever that means. I couldn’t sleep at night. My curiosity was too great. Finally, after a lesson, I casually brought it up.”

  “And…?”

  “Nothing. Probably told me the same thing he told you. Something about it being the doorway to destruction and such. He’s never spoken of it since. I’ve been searching for clues, but no one ever has anything to say.”

  Cody bit his lip. Before he could say anything further Dace called out from atop his horse, “Mount up! We can’t wait any longer. Next stop—Flore Gub.”

  35

  Changing the Board

  CAPTAIN TALGU’S BLOODSHOT EYES GLAZED as they stared unblinkingly at the battalion map on the table. He was by no means a fool or childish dreamer. One does not get personally appointed by General Levenworth without a reputation for rational thinking. It was that very intellect which had led him to the map’s inevitable outcome: we can’t win. The red chips within the outline of Flore Gub were outnumbered twenty-to-one by the golden stack outside it.